Mourinho is worried about us, says Ferrara

Juventus coach Ciro Ferrara believes Jose Mourinho is worried ahead of the new Serie A season, which kicks-off on Saturday. In his pre-match press conference ahead of Sunday's visit of minnows Chievo, Ferrara said a recent spat between Mourinho and Italy coach Marcello Lippi proved the former Chelsea boss is feeling the pressure.

Juventus coach Ciro Ferrara believes Inter Milan counterpart Jose Mourinho is worried ahead of the new Serie A season, which kicks-off on Saturday.

In his pre-match press conference ahead of Sunday's visit of minnows Chievo, Ferrara said a recent spat between Mourinho and Italy coach Marcello Lippi proved the former Chelsea boss is feeling the pressure.

Lippi predicted that Juve would lift their first title since 2003 this season, after which Mourinho accused the former Juve and Inter boss of lacking respect.

"Last year when Lippi tipped Inter, no-one said anything. This time I was surprised by his prediction about Juventus and Mourinho's reaction," said Ferrara.

"It was just a prediction and for sure he's put a little more pressure on me.

"But Mourinho's reaction has convinced me even more that we are stronger this year. Even the Inter coach is thinking about us."

Ferrara is a virtual novice having taken over the Juve hot-seat -- his first coaching job -- for the last two matches of the previous campaign.

But despite his inexperience, the general consensus of opinion is that Juve will be a tougher proposition this season having signed Fabio Cannavaro, Diego and Felipe Melo.

And the young coach knows he has a responsibility to bring the glory days back to Juventus, who have won no major trophies since being relegated to Serie B in 2006 for match-fixing.

"We have to start winning again. Expectations around us are sky high and that's how it should be," said Ferrara.

"We finished second last season and we've strengthened. Now I'm going to have to manage the enthusiasm surrounding this club."

Having finished third two years ago and runners-up last season, Ferrara knows his team need to get off to a good start this season if they are to go one better.

They won only two out of their first seven matches last season, meaning they were playing catch-up from the word go.

And they cannot afford to slip up early on against lesser lights like they did last term, drawing this corresponding fixture 3-3.